San Francisco 49ers: Colin Kaepernick big concern for Atlanta Falcons

SANTA CLARA -- The Green Bay Packers were defenseless against 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in the read-option. It boggles the mind to think what Kaepernick might do against an Atlanta Falcons defense that has struggled more than any team against running quarterbacks.

Kaepernick has averaged 8.7 yards on runs this season, excluding kneel downs, the highest figure among quarterbacks with at least 30 rushes. The Falcons allowed a league-worst 8.9 yards against quarterbacks this season in similar situations.

"He can take a play that looks like a broken play, and looks like we have covered up, and turn it into a 70-yard touchdown run," Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson said of Kaepernick. "That's something that we're definitely cognizant of."

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) outruns Green Bay Packers cornerback Charles Woodson on the way to his second rushing touchdown of the game, during the third quarter of their NFC divisional playoff game, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

The Falcons said similar things about Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson before their game last Sunday. Wilson amassed 60 yards on only seven carries (8.6 average).

Against the Packers, Kaepernick set an NFL record for most rushing yards in a game, regular season or postseason, with 181 on 16 carries.

In those games, Newton rushed for 222 yards on 18 carries (11.2) and two touchdowns.

Even so, Robinson said, the Falcons "got some good things in place" for Kaepernick in Sunday's NFC Championship Game in Atlanta.

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"Eventually we're going to get it right," Robinson said. "We get a chance to get it right this Sunday. ... What better way than for Colin Kaepernick to come in here Sunday and get that job done."

Kaepernick said he has been categorized as a runner his entire football career. Robinson said the Falcons are just as wary of Kaepernick's passing ability, though.

"When I got into high school, college, I watched Vince Young, Michael Vick a lot, (Donovan) McNabb, watched the old clips of (Randall) Cunningham," Kaepernick said Wednesday. "They were all quarterbacks that were mobile and could make plays."